NGT Says Big NO To Dharna, Protests At Jantar Mantar; Asks Protesters To Shift To Ram Leela Maidan [Read Judgment]

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Delhi Government, New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and Police Commissioner to immediately stop all activities of dharna, protest, agitations, assembling of people, public speeches, using of loud speakers, etc., at Jantar Mantar road.

The tribunal, on a plea by residents of Jantar Mantar Road, also directed the NDMC to remove all makeshifts/ temporary structures, loudspeakers and public address system from the said stretch of Jantar Mantar road.

“The respondent shall shift the protestors, agitators and the people holding dharnas to the alternative site at Ram Leela Maidan, Ajmeri Gate, forthwith,” the principal bench, headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore, said in its order.

The people participating in dharna, protest, etc. and raising slogans as well as giving speeches through amplifiers and loud speakers have no right to compel petitioner and others living in the area to listen the same and tolerate it day and night, the bench observed.

It also ordered that the venue for dharna/protest be shifted to the alternative place available as per the statement made by the respondents. “Even otherwise it would be in the fitness of things to have a single venue for the purpose of assembling of people for dharna/agitation. The place for such activities has already been earmarked at Ram Leela Maidan, for gathering of more than five thousand people. This would strike a balance between the rights of the people in respect of their freedom of speech and expression and that of all the residents of Jantar Mantar road to live a peaceful, comfortable and pollution-free life at their residences,” the bench said.